Topic Contents

Ways HIV Cannot Be Spread

Topic Overview

HIV does not survive well outside the
body. HIV cannot be spread from one person to another in
any of the following ways:

Casual contact

In studies of hundreds of households
in which families have lived with and cared for people who have AIDS, including
situations in which no one knew that the person was HIV-infected, HIV was
spread only when there was sexual contact or needle-sharing with the infected
person or contact with the infected person's blood.

HIV is
not spread in such settings where exposures are repeated and prolonged and can
involve contact with an infected person's body fluids, so it is even
less likely to be spread in other casual social settings, such as schools and
offices.

Saliva, sweat, tears, urine, or feces

HIV cannot be
spread by sharing drinking glasses or by casual kissing. The risk of spreading
the virus through "deep" kissing in which large amounts of saliva are exchanged
is extremely low. Only one unproven case has ever been reported.

No cases of HIV spread have ever been reported after a person has come in
contact with the sweat, tears, urine, or feces of an HIV-infected
person.

Vaccines

HIV is not spread by vaccines made from
blood products, such as the hepatitis B vaccine and various
immunoglobulins approved for use in the United
States.

Hepatitis B vaccine now contains no human
tissue or blood.

The other products are made from screened blood or
plasma and undergo purification that destroys any harmful viruses or
bacteria.

Insects

HIV is not spread by insects. Insects do not
become infected and their saliva does not contain the virus. Blood-sucking
insects, such as mosquitoes, do not inject blood into the next person they
bite.

Contact with common objects

HIV is not spread by
touching common objects such as toilet seats or faucet handles.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.